"The Court will continue to conduct its normal operations through October 11. The Court building will be open to the public during its usual hours, and the Court will hear the scheduled oral arguments. A further update will be provided in the event the lapse of appropriations continues beyond October 11," the announcement says.

Monday, October 7 is the first Monday in October, making it the court's usual opening day for its new term. The justices are scheduled to kick off the term with that day an age discrimination case and a securities fraud class action.

A total of six cases are on for argument next week, including a challenge to limits on how much money an individual donor can give in the aggregate to federal campaigns and political action committees during each election cycle.

The lower levels of the federal judiciary have also continued to work since the shutdown, using funds from fees the courts collect and from appropriations not limited to a specific fiscal year. Some civil cases involving the U.S. Government have been halted because most lawyers working for the Justice Department's Civil Division have been furloughed.

A memo issued by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts indicates a partial shutdown of the courts is likely to take place at about the time of the Columbus Day holiday. After that, the courts would only handle essential work, including those relating to protection of life and property. However, the official guidance suggests that many cases could be deemed essential where judges have a role created by statute or the Constitution.